As many take down Christmas decorations, prepare for New Year's Eve celebrations, or gear up for the return to work this week -- I have decided to wait on all of the above. Instead of stressing or hurrying to clean the house up before school starts again, I am striving to complete as much "writing" and "speaking" related tasks first.The calendar will read January 1, 2013 before we know it and this also means, Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey is nearing the last round of editing before hitting "Accept Proof" so we can start ordering books for the April 3, 2013 release date. The path of an Indie author is similar yet different to your traditional author. Thank goodness, I'm not your traditional or typical girl either. While some of the tasks on my to-do-list are different, much are the same. The greatest difference is that when you self-publish, you need to work at this list mostly on your own or with the help of your writers' critique group, friends, family, and fellow authors and speakers. I have a attended a few writers' conferences and continue to learn not only how to be the best writer I can, but how to "market" myself, my books, and my speaking. I've listened to various presenters share how they "market" themselves and their books and ministry. I've taken a multitude of notes, read too many blogs to count, and asked questions of the experts already published or speaking on a professional level.I have downloaded free templates to organize my marketing plan, read books on how to set this up, and even asked to see how others do this. In the long run, I decided to mesh all I've learned into a way that is effective to me. This is the key with writing, or with business , for that matter. One will struggle to be successful if she tries to organize, publicize, and "be" someone she isn't.

Those who know me might think it is all organized on the computer with various charts, graphs, Word documents, and Excel documents ~ all organized into an appropriate folder on my computer. WRONG! I started this way but didn't find it functional for the amount of time spent on the go in my life.My marketing plan is organized, detailed, and very colorful yet it is within the yellow and blue notebook you see above. The pages are tabbed with various colored sticky-notes and it keeps an April 3, 2013 release date possible.This is an exciting time. Some authors would rather be writing and let someone else do this end but I so love people, this is becoming some of the most fun. There are businesses an author can pay to organize this information, to promote their book, to schedule speaking engagements, and even to set up blog tours. I have looked into these yet this teacher's assistant and her fabulous husband are trusting God and doing it ourselves.As we move forward and continue to trust God, He is always faithful. I sent out invitations to authors, editors, publishers, and friends I have met since July 2010 through various writing and speaking venues. I invited them/you to come alongside me to share Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey with their readers. The response is only something God could orchestrate. Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Phil. 2:1-4While my marketing plan might not be a glorified Excel program, it is one allowing for time to glorify God and let Him be glorified through the generosity and help of others. God gifted me with the skills to write for Him, long before I knew there were books to be written.What does your marketing plan look like? Traditional or not-so-traditional? Have you helped a fellow brother or sister-in-Christ in their mission to serve God? Isn't a great feeling to help each other and share Jesus in the process? Very cool, if I say so myself.

Available on Amazon.comW﻿here's Heidi? One Sister's Journey *When the Waves Subside: There is Hope *Encourage Others: One Day at a TimeNo More Pain: I Can Fly *YOU are a Rainbow *Goal Setting for a Renewed You*Also available on Kindle*

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